Author Note: Here we go again. Chapter 2. I am really enjoying playing with these characters. Let me know what you think. Reviews are magical.


Chapter 2

After a few days, Ariel began to familiarize herself with the staff of the castle. She made a point of stopping anyone she saw in the halls to ask them their name. To Ariel, it made no difference if they were dusting the chandeliers or playing the piano after dinner, they were deserving of her appreciation and a warm hello. Eric admired her curiosity and genuine kindness. He often took her aside to meet members of Chef Lois' kitchen staff who prepared delicious vegetarian dishes night after night. He took her down to the docks to introduce her to his crew members who manned his favourite ship, Songstress.

Ariel walked the wooden deck, stopping to admire the thick ropes, the men washing the decks with grimy mops. Her fingers ran across the railings, polished until they shone in the sunlight. She swore she could almost see her reflection in the wood. When the sun would begin to set, Eric would take her into the back cabin. It overlooked the sea behind them. She would walk over to the tall windows and watch the waves roar, splashing over the rocks she had perched on many times when the surface called to her. The ship would sway, but her legs never faltered while on the ship. It was as if her body knew she was close to the sea, where she was born.

It was Friday evening and the ship was busy with members of the crew. They were prepping for a voyage across the open water. Fishing, from what Ariel understood. She wrinkled her nose when Eric explained that the village relied on the ships to fish to provide food for the members of the village. She nodded and walked over to the cabin on the main deck that overlooked the water. Eric shut the door behind them, muffling the voices of the men scrambling across the deck, pulling ropes and lowering sails.

"Ariel," Eric began as he stepped over to her.

She was trailing her finger along the map on the wooden table in the center of the room. "Yes?" her head snapped up and her hair framed her face perfectly. Her smile was pure.

Eric smirked. "Would you like to go out on the water again?"

She sighed. "Yes," she said, "but no."

"What do you mean? You could visit your family." Eric walked around behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned into his touch.

"I know," she muttered. "I'm not sure I should, though. If I go out there and see my family, I will want to go back, Eric. And it's not for lack of enjoying my time here, or being with you, or understanding that the land calls to me…" she trailed off watching the sun begin to descend, sending an orange glow across the water.

"It's hard to leave home." Eric said, giving her waist a small squeeze. He pressed his lips to her cheek.

She turned in his arms and snuggled into his chest. He rested his chin on top of her red hair. She still smelled of sea water. It clung to her, no matter how much she scrubbed at her fair skin. The sea was her original home, but she had known in her heart for a very long time that she was not meant to stay there. The land called to her, the birds, the people, and the wonders of the mainland. It was all she saw at night, it was everything she dreamed of. Her collections grew as her desire to walk became more intense. And with each new item she added to her cavern, her heartstrings tugged towards the surface just a bit more.

Ariel looked up at Eric. "Maybe one last trip?" her heart ached as she asked the question.

Eric nodded. "One last trip," he agreed.

He leaned down, cupped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her. A single tear escaped her and slid down to meet their lips. It was overwhelmingly salty. The sea water was within her, it consumed her. She parted her lips and clung to Eric's shoulders. Her fingernails dug into his shirt, her body moved as close as she could. The kiss deepened and Eric ran his hands down her body to rest on the small of her back. His hands began to ball into fists, pulling up the fabric of her dress. Without warning he lifted her with ease and sat her on the table without breaking their lips. Ariel let out a small gasp as he parted her legs to get closer to her. She invited him closer by pulling his shoulders until their hips locked and her ankles crossed behind him. She felt something between them and her heart started to race. Her mind began to swim with curiosity. Her fingers ran down the front of his shirt as his hands greedily rubbed her thighs.

"Eric," Ariel murmured and she put a hand on his stomach and gently pushed him back. His eyes were half open, he looked sleepy. His smile was lazy and lopsided.

He kissed her nose. "I'm sorry, Ariel," he said and lifted her down to stand. Her legs wobbled as the heat in her belly began to dull. "I have a hard time resisting you." She watched him as a slight pink tinge kissed his cheeks.

Ariel knew things were different on land. She had more than just legs now. Her handmaid had stayed with her on the second evening she came back, at Ariel's request, to discuss her new body. The handmaid had widened her eyes as Ariel expressed her genuine curiosity and understandable lack of knowledge. The handmaid, Heather, had explained the most she could before her words began to fumble and her eyes began to wander to the door. On the third night she brought Ariel a book.

"Can you read?" she had asked before handing Ariel the book.

Ariel nodded as she turned from combing her hair in the full length mirror. "Yes, I can," she said softly as she accepted the book from Heather's hands. "What is this?" she asked as she ran her hands over the cover.

Heather blushed a little. "It will help you understand the female body…" she trailed off, cleared her throat and walked out before Ariel could say thank you.

Ariel had not slept that night. She had to replace the candlestick on her bedside table twice while she read. Her eyes could not go over the words fast enough. Her hands couldn't turn the pages quickly enough. She was completely engrossed in the book. The pages held the answer to every question she had asked her handmaid the night before, to every question she didn't get a chance to ask. Her heart hammered in her chest as she investigated the pictures. Her fingers trailed over the anatomy of the man and woman. It was all so curious to her. So complex, but so basic at the same time. When she had finished the book the whole way through she stood in front of the mirror and stripped her clothing.

Her breasts were full and her waist slender. The patch of hair between her legs was no longer as big of a mystery as it once was. She looked at herself from every angle. Her toes wiggled against the cool floor, her fingers danced across her new skin. And a fire began to burn in her belly as she thought of what she and Eric were able to do now that she no longer had a tail. It was an ache that began to become frustrating as she tried to sleep at night. Her mind wandered, the hands lingered, her body screamed for things she had only just learned.

After leaving the boat and eating dinner, Ariel found herself watching Eric closely in the sitting room. The piano music wafted through the air. The smell of tea was strong as Eric sipped from a fine teacup. Ariel had tried the tea. It was such an unusual flavor that she had opted to take a sip every night and nothing more while she adjusted.

"What is it?" Eric asked as Ariel watched him tap his foot along to the music.

She shrugged. "Can we dance like we did in the village?" she asked watching his eyes light up.

Without a moment's hesitation, Eric stood and extended his hand to Ariel. She took it and they swayed, his hand protectively over her hip, his other clasping her hand. They gazed into each other's eyes throughout the song. When it ended his kissed her cheek. Her heart fluttered. She reached up and brought him back down to her mouth. She opened her mouth and licked his lower lip.

He stepped back. "Careful," he whispered and cocked his head to where the pianist flipped through the sheets of music.

Her eyes also lingered to where maids scurried from different rooms with pails, mops, dusters, and sheets in their hands. The castle seemed busier than usual. She pouted a bit and Eric smiled. He leaned into her and pulled her close. The piano started up again, a much slower and deeper tune. They swayed, their bodies touching at every joint. The fire in her belly began to ignite.

Eric pulled back a bit to be able to see her face. "Would you like to sail tomorrow, see your family?"

Ariel smiled. "That sounds nice," she pressed her face back into his chest and let a few tears escape.

She knew in her heart that tomorrow would be her final goodbye. In order for her to live her life on land, to feel that she had made the right choice, she had to learn to let go. She had to accept what she left behind. Her stomach twisted into a knot as they swayed. She had made her choice. She chose to follow her heart, follow the pull of the land. It was her destiny.

Eric pulled away and sunk to one knee. Ariel blinked through her tears and watched in wonder as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. It sparkled in the setting sun. Her heart hammered in her chest. She had read about this. Under the sea, in her cavern, with nothing but her imagination, she had read about marriage on land. The rings presented to blushing girls to wear on their finger. They were usually diamonds, but Eric held a gold band with a precious white pearl. On either side of the pearl were small, microscopic blue sapphires. Two sapphires shimmered on either side of the large pearl. The white was blinding, the shine given off in the light was stunning.

Eric noticeably gulped. "Ariel," he began, "I knew from the moment we met that you were the one I had been searching for. You are honest, kind, and full of curiosity. I have never felt love this true. Will you marry me?" his eyes turned glossy as he held the ring out to her.

Ariel nodded and held out her right hand, watching as it shook. Eric smirked and stood. "I need your other hand," he said as he gently took her left hand that had been covering her mouth. "Engagement and wedding rings go on this finger," he slowly slid the ring onto her slender finger next to her pinky, "the left hand." He finished.

Ariel stared at the ring. It fit perfectly, just like in the books she read. "I have always wanted to be on land," she said in a shaking voice. "And when I met you, I knew that it wasn't just a silly dream. I knew that I was meant to be here."

Eric met her eyes. They both leaned in and kissed. They didn't hold back. Their hands clutched at each other, their bodies pressed closely. Tears fell freely from Ariel's eyes and added flavor to their kisses. One of Eric's hands went into her hair, holding the back of her head, pressing her into him. Ariel heard cheers, she heard applause, but her mind was swarming with thoughts of Eric. Of his body pressing into hers, of his hands wandering over her skin. She thought of saying vows, of their hands clasping, of golden rings on each of their hands. Then she imagined children. Her belly swelling with a child, like how she read in the book Heather had given her.

When they parted, Carlotta was the first to rush over. She held a handkerchief and was visibly sobbing. "Oh my dears," she started, "I am just so thrilled." She brought them both into a tight hug. Her arms engulfed them.

Ariel looked over Carlotta's head at Eric. "I want my family to be there," she said quietly.

Eric nodded. "Cancel tomorrow?" he asked. Ariel nodded in return. "Then let's get married at sea. Your family can join us."

Ariel let loose a new wave of tears. It was exactly what she needed to hear. A wedding at sea. Her family watching as she married into her new world. Parting into the night, saying goodbye to the sea and embracing the land.


Shall I keep going? I love a slow burning plot with characters like these. What do you think? Reviews are inspiring.